Album Review

Giant Drag's debut, Hearts and Unicorns, is a sometimes hazy, sometimes fizzy blast of who-cares rock, not meaning that you, the listener, will find it as disposable as the cups sitting next to the beer keg, but that its creators, singer/guitarist Annie Hardy and drummer/keyboardist Micah Calabrase, seemed to have tossed it off while waiting for their next turn at the tap. Hardy's voice, a Liz Phair-ish, PJ Harvey-ish concoction that's part sleepy little girl, part pissed-off teen, reels you in from the meowing outro of first track "Kevin Is Gay" all the way through the '90s-reminiscent closer, "Slayer," but it's her banged-up guitar playing and light touch with a batch of twisted lyrics that seem most enduring. "This isn't it," she sings rather poignantly of a doomed relationship on the same-titled track; minutes later, she's cooing in the direction of a "Pretty Little Neighbor." Influences find their way through the music in little fits, with the Beach Boys surfacing here, Nirvana poking up there, and My Bloody Valentine erupting through the occasional racket more often than either of them. [This edition contains bonus tracks.]

Customer Reviews

Try Giant Drag

by
Eon Blue

Fans of the early 90s grunge scene will particularly enjoy this album. Giant Drag immediately reminded me of the Breaders. The album is solid from the first to the last track. I "discovered" this band while reading an interview with Daniel Radcliffe (a.k.a. Harry Potter).

Unpatronizing, Cliche-Free, Genius!

by
John Cropp

I don't know if that's right but this album is fantastic. All droney guitars and straight-but-sweet melodies. Like a friend you can talk to without them trying to overdramatize or funny up their stories.
"Love, love, love... this isn't it."
How fantastic is that?
Very!

YummYumm Enjoys This Sound

by
YummYumm

YummYumm thinks this band should be a lot further than they are. The sound track version for "This Isn't it" is where the band should take their sound. Example: "Cordial Invitation" and "Blunt Picket Fence" are good sounding tracks that could have made YummYumm vote five stars if it were worked more in the studio. If they can just start developing basic tracks like this more...that's all they need to do. YummYumm will definately buy more from this band. YummYumm likes talking in third-person.

Biography

Formed: 2002 in Los Angeles, CA

Genre: Alternative

Years Active: '00s

The dreamy-but-tough indie rock of L.A.'s Giant Drag is the brainchild of singer/guitarist Annie Hardy, whose knowing lyrics and washes of guitar suggest a mix of My Bloody Valentine, the Breeders, PJ Harvey, and Mazzy Star. Hardy played keyboards in an area band called Shrinkwrap before striking out on her own. After writing a few songs, she drafted drummer/keyboardist Micah Calabrese to collaborate with her; after auditioning several other potential members, the duo decided to stay a duo. Giant...